The Midwinter meeting of the American Library Association annually announces the winners of  outstanding books and media for children, sponsored by various committees of the section,  Association of Library Service for Children (ALSC).   This was formerly known as the announcement of the Newbery Medal, for ‘the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature’,  and Caldecott Medal winners for  the most distinguished American picture book for children published in the previous year.   The Awards Ceremony is now known as the Youth Media Awards, because of the addition of awards for other categories of book publishing and media.   The recent ALA meeting was in San Diego, CA, and the announcements made on January 11, 2011.

Briefly,  Moon over Manifest,” written by Clare Vanderpool, is the 2011 Newbery Medal winner. The book is published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.   “A Sick Day for Amos McGee,” illustrated by Erin E. Stead, is the 2011 Caldecott Medal winner. The book was written by Philip C. Stead, and is a Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing.  The UA Libraries does not have these books yet.  We do have the Newbery and Caldecott winning books in a special section of the Education School Library area in McLure.  For all the details, go to  http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/mediapresscenter/presskits/youthmediaawards/alayouthmediaawards.cfm